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Of: TT
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Photo: Manu Fernandez / AP / TT
Demonstrators protest against the draft law on active euthanasia in front of the Spanish parliament in Madrid.
The Spanish Parliament passes a bill that allows active euthanasia under strict conditions. But the issue is delicate in the Catholic country.
The bill was introduced by the minority government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and passed by a wide margin in the Spanish parliament on Thursday, despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church and conservative parties.
Anyone suffering from a “serious and incurable disease” or a “debilitating or chronic condition” that the person considers “unbearable” must have the opportunity to request euthanasia, according to the proposal.
The request for euthanasia must be made in writing and confirmed two weeks later. The application must also be approved by two doctors and then examined by a special commission.
“As a society, we cannot remain indifferent to the unacceptable suffering of some people,” said Health Minister Salvador Illa during the debate in Parliament prior to the vote.
The main opposition party, the conservative Popular Party, called the bill a defeat for all and accused the government of speeding up the vote to avoid serious debate.
The far-right party Vox promised to challenge the law in the Spanish constitutional court.
The proposal will go to a vote in the Senate in early 2021, where it is also expected to pass.
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